The hidden story behind The Odyssey’s tribute to David Keighley

written by Craig Ellison

July 17, 2026 12:20 pm

The hidden story behind The Odyssey’s tribute to David Keighley — Image credit: Google Veo 3

Christopher Nolan just dedicated The Odyssey to a true pioneer — a bold nod that hints at the scale and spirit of the epic ahead.

Christopher Nolan does love a bit of spectacle, doesn’t he? Anyone who’s seen his films knows he’s always banging the drum for proper cinema—big screens, big sound, and if he had his way, probably bigger popcorn too. But if there’s one thing the director has a particular soft spot for, it’s IMAX. We’re talking 70mm film, wall-to-wall aspect ratios, and audio that tends to shake you to your bones. It’s not just about technical wizardry—Nolan genuinely believes it’s the most immersive way to tell a story on screen. He’s been vocal about this for ages, calling IMAX 'the gold standard'—and yes, he actually used those words during a Director’s Guild chat back in 2012.

Since then, Nolan’s only doubled down on his commitment to that giant canvas. Fast-forward to his latest project, The Odyssey. Not only is this one shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film (which, if you’re into geeky stats, is a proper first), but the technical hurdles just to make it all work were no joke. Nolan worked hand-in-glove with IMAX, coming up with new kit and techniques—basically, going full mad scientist to turn his vision into reality. But he didn’t do it alone. There’s someone else whose fingerprints are all over this story: David Keighley, a behind-the-scenes legend whose name most of the public have probably never heard.

David Keighley: The Man Behind the Massive Screen

Let’s talk about David Keighley, because frankly, the history of IMAX might look very different without him. He was the first chief quality officer for IMAX and a real driving force, not just in growing the format, but in shifting it. Before Keighley, IMAX was mostly about nature documentaries and educational stuff—an occasional treat for school field trips. He had bigger ideas. With Keighley at the technical helm, blockbuster films started making their way onto those enormous screens, and suddenly every big studio wanted a piece of the action.

His involvement stretches back over fifty years, but even in just the last fifteen, as chief quality officer, Keighley oversaw the making of more than 500 IMAX films. (He even directed one himself back in 1972, Catch the Sun.) There’s a bit of trivia for you. But the bottom line: nothing left IMAX’s labs without Keighley’s personal sign-off. The company itself put it this way after his death—no IMAX print went out the door without his approval, which is about as hands-on as you can get in the film world.

Keighley’s Final Days and Lasting Tribute

Keighley died on 28 August 2025 after battling neuroendocrine prostate cancer. And here’s where things turn bittersweet: he was still working right up to the end. IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond said Keighley was reviewing daily footage from The Odyssey only days before he passed away. Gelfond called this a 'bittersweet but fitting capstone' to such a career. At IMAX’s Los Angeles headquarters, the main cinema is now called the David Keighley Theater—a pretty telling tribute to how much the company valued the man.

Nolan himself lent his own appreciation, issuing a statement with IMAX calling Keighley both a mentor and a mate. And for Nolan, this wasn’t just about technical know-how—Keighley helped Hollywood as a whole wake up to the full power of IMAX, starting with Nolan’s own The Dark Knight.

'David Keighley was my friend and IMAX mentor for over twenty years. His expertise and collaborative spirit put IMAX cameras into my hands for the first time and opened Hollywood's eyes to the power of the format, starting with The Dark Knight. His keen eye and uncompromising standards meant that audiences were treated to the best possible experience of our films — a massive part of their impact. When, a decade ago, photochemical film faced an existential threat, David brought it to our attention, just in time to rally filmmakers and studios and ensure continued production. No filmmaker would be able to shoot or screen film of any format today if not for David Keighley — our entire industry owes him a massive debt. The last film he completed work on was Ryan Coogler's Sinners, and while it breaks my heart to know that we will not be finishing The Odyssey together, I take comfort knowing that he personally supervised the processing and printing of everything we shot. I miss him as a collaborator and as a friend.'

Nolan has dedicated The Odyssey to Keighley, wanting his friend properly recognised. Considering The Odyssey is breaking new ground as the first shot entirely on IMAX film, you’d be hard pressed to find a more fitting way to honour the man who practically lived and breathed the format. Keighley worked on one last feature, supervising the process on Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, before making sure everything for The Odyssey was squared away—ironically, not quite making it to the premiere that will bear his name.

David Keighley (1948-2025): Pioneered IMAX's jump from educational to blockbuster, approved every major release print for decades, and left his mark on over 500 films.
The Odyssey: First movie shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film, with Nolan and IMAX developing custom gear and techniques specifically for it.
Legacy: Main IMAX screening room in Los Angeles now named 'David Keighley Theater'.
Final Projects: Supervised Sinners and all the processing/printing work for The Odyssey before his passing in August 2025.

For a studio system notorious for crediting the wrong people, at least here Nolan’s giving the man his due: The Odyssey is, at its heart, a massive thank you to David Keighley—a name you’ll probably start seeing in much bigger letters from now on.